VOD's You Should See: The Standoff at Sparrow Creek

VOD's You Should See looks to highlight independent cinema that has a very limited theatrical release or is being directly released On Demand. The hope of this column is to help other film lovers discover an indie gem and for the film to be recognized and seen by a wider audience!

This week's film: The Standoff at Sparrow Creek

After a mass shooting at a police funeral, ex-cop Gannon (James Badge Dale) mysteriously gathers with 6 other men in a remote warehouse/storage unit. We soon discover these are all militia men who have to decide how to act after the shooting. They can run, but the police will probably be watching the roads. The other option is to wait it out and hide all their weapons in case the police find them. They soon discover one of their guns is missing, the same one used in the mass shooting, which means one of them was behind the attack. Gannon, who used to be an interrogator when he was on the force, uses his skills to determine who the likely culprit is. Is it Morris (Happy Anderson) who had Aryan Brotherhood ties before joining the militia? Is it the 23 year old Catcher in the Rye obsessed Keating (Robert Aramayo), who is also mute? Or could it be Noah (Brian Geraghty), whose alibi timeline doesn't quite add up? One thing is for sure, trust no one.

This is a very effective thriller, which is anchored by fantastic performances. James Badge Dale, most likely known for his roles in either The Departed or The Grey, delivers a tour de force performance that proves he should be getting more high profile roles in Hollywood. A scene where he interrogates Happy Anderson is a highlight, but every actor is given a chance to show off their talents.

What truly sets the film apart is that it essentially takes place in one location and feels very theatrical, giving it an intimacy that isn't present in many thrillers. Director Henry Dunham keeps the plot moving with Gannon finding out new information along with the audience. Nothing feels wasted, with even the score and set design being very stripped and basic. And the dialogue, which feels very Mamet-esque, underlines the tension present in every scene.

The cinematography also deserves a special shout out. Many scenes take place in very dark areas of the warehouse, yet you never lose track of the characters or what is happening on screen. Many of the shots, especially in the concluding scenes are very effective and well done.

Thanks to a terrific setting, fantastic dialogue, and stirring performances, I highly recommend checking this film out. I wish I had gotten to see it in theaters.

The Standoff at Sparrow Creek is currently available for purchase on iTunes or any On Demand service.